The 2012 NBA Finals ended way too early, and now attention throughout the association is directed toward the Draft.  In Part 2 of our NBA Draft Preview we look at the players most likely to become All-Stars, as well as the later picks to keep an eye on.

Jerry Stackhouse Group (Potential All-Stars)

Harrison Barnes – The UNC swingman had a rough finish to his career as a Tar Heel, but he has rebounded nicely in pre-Draft workouts and the Scouting Combine.  Testing as one of the best athletes in the Draft, Barnes’ stock has risen, and there is no denying his shooting touch and ability to score.  His game could mature into something resembling Danny Granger circa 2009, which would be a great addition to any team in the early lottery.

Andre Drummond – The biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the Draft, we believe Drummond will succeed given he’s selected by the right team that has strong veteran presence.  He’s a very athletic 4 who has all the skill needed to play at a high level in the NBA.  The glaring questions, however, are his motor and desire to play.  This has been seen many times before, and Drummond can choose to follow the path of Eddy Curry (not good) or Shawn Kemp (good).

Jared Sullinger – Sullinger was a beast at OSU, and that will translate into the pro-game.  He has all the skill a team looks for in a power forward, including a capable mid-range jumper.  What he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in ability to score in multiple ways.  He is comparable to Kevin Love, another 4 who’s athletic ability was believed to hurt his game in the NBA.  The real concern with Sullinger is his back, which has recently begun to scare NBA teams.  As long as he remains healthy, look for Sullinger to play in future All-Star games.

Dion Waiters – One of the best sixth men in college basketball at Syracuse, Waiters’ game translates well into the NBA.  He’s relentless going to the rim and can finish in traffic.  He’s drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade throughout his career at Syracuse and has the ability to be a combo guard in the mold of a Tyreke Evans at the pro level.  His shot could use some work, but a tough, physical 2-guard is something that will help any team in the lottery.

Monta Ellis Group (Sleepers)

Tony Wroten Jr. – The Washington PG had his ups and downs his freshman year, but his talent has been evident from day one.  At 6’5″, he has great size to run the point, and his athletic ability is freakish.  His court vision is good and he’s a very capable passer.  One of the flashier players in the Draft, his decision making is suspect at times and his shot needs to improve.  The ability is there, however, and he can be a cross of Russell Westbrook and Jason Williams if he develops.

Doron Lamb – Kentucky’s leading scorer in their National Championship victory, Lamb can shoot the lights out.  He has one of the purest strokes in the Draft with seemingly unlimited range.  He’s a smooth player who has the ability to score in the NBA.  He can flourish as a bench player and we see him as a solid sixth man down the road – similar to what Jason Terry has done throughout his career.

Andrew Nicholson – A stretch 4 who was overlooked because he played at St. Bonaventure in Olean, NY, Nicholson received great national exposure in the Bonnies’ run throughout the A-10 and NCAA Tournaments.  Nicholson is a player who can be good at everything and he reminds some of Davis West.  Whichever team selects him will be drafting a player who can contribute from day one and make the team better.

Hollis Thompson – Arguably the best long-range shooter in the draft, Thompson will find a spot on an NBA roster.  At 6’8″, he can get his shot off against most defenders.  He has the ability to drive to the basket and rebound as well, grabbing over 5 boards per game his Junior year at Georgetown.  He reminds us of Jeff Green, and if he develops into what Uncle Jeff was during Green’s first couple seasons with the Thunder then Thompson will be one of the better steals in the Draft.

There’s no doubt that during March Madness and after the end of the National Championship game that there were hundreds of articles posted about the final teams, games, and the national championship winners. Undoubtedly most people have heard about the students have announced after their school finished in the March Madness competition that they will be forgoing the rest of their schooling to go into the NBA draft. While there aren’t more students this year leaving school to go to the draft there still are a lot of them. We all knew that schools like Kentucky and UNC would have students leaving for the draft because they do almost every year. The surprising student that announced that he was leaving for the draft after only two years in school was Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger.

Many students and fans of Ohio State knew that it was a possibility that Sullinger would be leaving after this season at Ohio State but not many truly thought that he would go through with it. Many fans that I spoke to after his announcement last week said that they thought he would continue for at least one more year due to the fact that he wasn’t able to play that much this year. In my opinion though, that’s a big factor as to why he is leaving. He wasn’t able to play as much as he usually would because he had some minor injuries, none of which would prevent him from leaving school to go to the draft but ones that could scare him into thinking that if something worse were to happen his chance at playing in the NBA could be over before it even started.

There was tremendous uproar over the loss that Ohio State suffered to Kansas during the Final Four games. Many fans and students said that they didn’t think Ohio State played as well as they could have but what they don’t realize is how different it is to play in a stadium that is so different than anything a team has played in before. Granted Ohio State was doing really well during the first half and many people, including myself, thought that they would win the game, not lose by two points, Ohio State still played one heck of a game.

Jared Sullinger and his fellow Buckeye’s made it far in the March Madness competition two years in a row, but neither year did they make it to the championship. There’s still a chance that they could next year or any year after that, but from Sullinger’s standpoint, now is the right time to go into the draft and give a shot to the NBA. I know that the team won’t be the same next year without Sullinger but that doesn’t mean they won’t still do well. The team will still have two key players, Aaron Craft and DeShaun Thomas. The Buckeye’s will have a lot of change going on next season without Sullinger being on the team, but now is the time for fans to wonder what is coming next for the team.

March may inevitably be the most exhilarating month of the year.

Temperatures increase. Grass gets greener. Days grow longer.

And while the bounce of a basketball is heard through television sets across the country in celebration of March Madness, something is just a bit different about attending live games and spending time behind the scenes (and not having to sit through multiple commercials.)

Basketball came alive at the second and third rounds of the tournament in Columbus, Ohio, as players, coaches, fans, media staff, and event workers prepared for a round of six enticing matchups. Emotions ran high from the court to the stands to the locker room, and having the opportunity to witness it all was incredible.

Passing nervous faces on their way to the press room, there was no way I could even imagine putting myself in the shoes of the talented athletes from NC State, Georgetown, St. Louis, Memphis, Belmont, San Diego State, LIU Brooklyn, and Michigan State. All their hard work and dedication of the past season had led to that Thursday, and four of them were going home after just one game.

Jokes shared and tears shed were both symbols of excitement and passion for the road to New Orleans.

Rick Majerus’ discussion about Twitter was one to remember: “I don’t see the point of Twitter. ‘I went to the beach. The water was wet.’ What is that?”

Joe Pastner taking the blame for Memphis’ loss to St. Louis for the sake of his players was more than admirable.

Brian Conklin’s heartbreaking, tearful press conference after his final career game was undoubtedly powerful for all basketball fans alike.

And speaking with a member of NC State’s coaching staff after earning a spot in the Sweet Sixteen was unforgettable: “We’re so excited. This hasn’t happened for us in a long time.”

You see it all on TV, and then you see it in person.

It opens up your eyes and redefines what college basketball means to you. It doesn’t mean creating a successful bracket or winning a hefty sum of money for lucky picks, and it has nothing to do with sitting at your computer waiting for the exact moment tickets go on sale for the three games in New Orleans.

It is about putting yourself in the game and rooting for not only your favorite team but the team putting forth the most effort. It is about sympathizing with those who lose after fighting a tough battle and staying proud of the National Champion for their skill and perseverance. For the fans, each individual tournament may lost only a few short weeks, but March Madness in itself can last a lifetime.

Photo courtesy of CBS and the NCAA.

Check out what our analysts had to say about this year’s big dance….we’re not sure what is on the line here (probably an only partially used CSF coozie).  Anyway, here are the predictions from a few of our writers.

Jeff Dunbar/CSF Senior Editor

Final Four:  Kentucky, Syracuse, Michigan State, UNC

I have Kentucky beating UNC in the championship, and here’s my breakdown of why:

I have Syracuse rallying to the Final Four, despite the suspension of Fab Melo.  They’re still very deep, and I think they come together as a team and get to New Orleans.

I think Tom Izzo gets yet another trip to the Final Four behind his coaching and the versitle play of Draymond Green.

UNC recovers nicely from their heart-breaking loss to Florida State in the ACC Championship game.  Keep in mind that the Tarheels were only one shot away in that one, and that was without John Henson.  Expect him to be back by round 2, and that will make an impact for Roy Williams’ crew.

I have Kentucky winning it all.  They have the best player in the nation, in Anthony Davis, and I believe this is the year John Calipari gets it done.  The ‘Cats simply have too much althleticsm, and despite losing the SEC Championship game, they are still the best team in the country.

Alex Munter/CSF Contributor and Bracketology Guru

Final Four:  Kentucky, Ohio State, Michigan State, UNC

I picked these final four because, come on- Kentucky, self explanatory. Ohio State because they have all star talent that is sure to step up (on and off the court). Michigan State has been having an awesome season with a team that remains calm and composed throughout the game and has a strong defense. Finally, UNC because despite injuries, the team still has 3 players certain to land high future NBA draft picks and a couple young shooters that are bound to give a show.

I picked Kentucky to take it all against UNC because they are unstoppable! They have only lost 2 games this entire season and the winning streak won’t stop now. Calipari has a team full of talent and he knows how to coach. Not to mention, the Wildcats have enthusiasm and speed on their side, both offensively and defensively, thus making it difficult for opponents to stop them on the way to the basket. I am predicting a tight game with an end score of 85-78.

Allie Balog/CSF Writer & Contributor

Final Four: Kentucky, Syracuse, Michigan St., UNC
I have these four teams going to the Final Four because they are the teams that I feel have proved this season that they can really go all the way. Kentucky for one has only lost two games in this entire regular season, they are probably the countries pick to win the National Championship, but that’s only because they have proved that they are the best team in the country thus far. As for Syracuse, Michigan State, and UNC while they have all had loses, they have also proved that they are still a team that you want to beat and they don’t like to be beaten.
As for the National Championship, I have Kentucky. Like I said they have proved that they are the best team in the country during the regular season, and I have no doubt in my mind that they will work their butt’s off during March Madness to prove that they truly are the best and win the entire championship. I think that they will end up beating Syracuse for the championship and not by a lot. I think that the final score will be less than a 10 point difference, which would make for a really great National Championship game and truly show who’s the best of the best.

Well, we have finally made it. It is March, the weather has gotten slightly warmer, and the smells of fresh-cut grass and newly-seeded basketball teams linger in the air as we head into postseason college basketball. Cities like Louisville, Columbus, Greensboro and Nashville are all abuzz with what is to come in the next week, and New Orleans is eagerly awaiting a high-caliber national championship game. But will there be any surprises? Who will make it to the top, and who will claim a few unexpected victories—could they be the same teams?

MidwestSportsFans.com has not only given us a few of their picks, but they have also given us some strategies on how to gather some of the best upsets this year. They give reference to ESPN’s “Giant Killer” blog, which looks closely at the statistics of certain teams to get a good view of who will be a smarter surprise pick while playing a top-ranked team. MSF also did a great job of making it clear that seeds have no relation to what happens on the court in a given game; that’s the beauty of basketball—anything can happen at any given time, and it’s not over until it’s over.

I agree with a few of MSF’s upset picks, including #12 Cal over #5 Temple and #14 Belmont over #3 Georgetown. But after looking closely at #6 Murray State a month ago, I believe they will get their spunk back once they hit the court in the first round and will be able to stop #11 Colorado State. I also do not see #11 Texas over #6 Cincinnati; the Bearcats have beaten teams such as Georgetown and Louisville, so maybe they will keep up the same pace they have had all season and defeat the Longhorns.

Upsets are always a tough call; what happens on the court is completely unpredictable, and once in the postseason, a team’s history essentially has nothing to do with what will happen next. But that is what makes March “madness”—each year, you never can tell what the tournament will bring.

Photo courtesy of Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

This season the NCAA has voted on expanding the tournament to 68 teams, 3 more than it has been in the past. Officials would have liked to have it expanded even further to 128 teams, but it has not been approved. Further expansion could take several more years. The 68-team format will not become official until the board of directors vote on April 29^th of this year, but it is likely to pass.

A portion of the public would like to see the tournament expanded, but I’m really not so sure this is the best idea. Isn’t the point of March Madness to watch and bet on all of the BEST college basketball teams throughout the nation? Isn’t the point of playing all season to eventually make it to the tournament? Who wants to watch mediocre basketball during the biggest basketball tournament of the year? Not me. It should be every team’s goal to make it to the tournament, not to waltz through the season with a bullshit record and then end up playing with the big boys. We live in a competitive world, and college sports are no joke to fans.  A team who barely won half of its games should not be allowed to a tournament where majority of the players have a future in the NBA.  Call me harsh, but it should be an honor to be invited to the tournament.

I firmly believe that this tournament is for the most talented teams, but should be everyone’s goal to ultimately reach. No one should expect to be in this tournament, it is a huge privilege.  Teams like UK, Syracuse, Duke and Kansas are incredible and fully deserve their spot in the tournament. I cannot wait to see what the top ten teams do this year.